Spindle adapter for supporting rayon cakes



April 1952 E. A. STIENEN 2,594,366

SPINDLE ADAPTER FOR SUPPORTING RAYON CAKES Filed Aug. 2, 1948 INVENTOR flags A Shem W Wine I ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 29, 1952 SPINDLE ADAPTER FOR SUPPORTING RAYON CAKES- Ernest A. Stienen, Peekskill, N. Y.

Application August 2, 1948, Serial No. 42,026

4 Claims.

My invention relates to an improved spindle adapter for supporting rayon cakes, particularly to liquid treatment of filamentary synthetic yarns, such as, rayon spun into cake form by the centrifugal pot system of spinning; and has for its principal object to provide an improved and economical method and apparatus for uniformly compressing the cake to a predetermined density, whereby even dyeing of rayon packages or cakes is readily attained.

It is well known practice, after rayon is converted into a filament from its soluble state, to form rayon cakes by spinning the filament in pots, in which the outer circumference of the cake to be spun is always fixed, as by the outer diameter of the pot; while the inner diameter of the finished (spun) cake, not being fixed, is prone to vary. In view of the variable inner diameter of the cake, it has been necessary, heretofore, as far as applicant is aware, to rewind the yarn from the cake onto a perforated spool in order to obtain the required uniform density thereof for even dye treatment of the yarn.

It is, therefore, another object of the invention to eliminate the above rewinding step and provide for a uniform and even dyeing of the cake directly after it has been potted.

It is also well known that the cake to be loaded onto rayon dyeing adapters or spools will dye evenly only as long as the cake fits snugly on the adapter, that is, without disturbing the original arrangement of layers of yarn. However, in view of the variations in the inner diameter of the cake, in some instances the cake will be loosely mounted on the adapter with by-passing of the dye liquor and consequent uneven dyeing of the cake; while in other instances, the cake will be forcibly pressed onto the adapter with disruption to the inner layers of ,the yarn and consequent loss of said inner layers for use in a further processing operation.

It is, therefore, still another object of the invention to overcome the above disadvantages and difiiculties by providing a method and arrangement whereby uniform and even dyeing may be obtained regardless of the variations in the inner diameter of the cake.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an arrangement that is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, efficient in operation, and durable in use.

According to a feature of the present invention advantages are secured over the prior art apparatus and method of dyeing rayon cakes by positively imparting a substantially equal pressure along the inner peripheral surface of the rayon cake; so that in accordance with my invention, the rayon cake assumes a predetermined uniform density with resultant even dyeing.

Other and further objects and features will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

Preferred embodiments of the invention have been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and are shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view, taken along line Il of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows, showing one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along line 2-2 of Fig. l in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the invention adapted for use with cakes having a tapered interior peripheral surface.

In certain respects, the present invention is to be considered as presenting a commercially and functionally improved system over that included in my prior Patent No. 2,250,085 of July 22, 1941, covering an Apparatus for Uniformly Dyeing Rayon Cakes.

Referring now to the drawing, particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention comprising a hollow perforated supporting spindle Ill with transverse openings II, which are provided for the passage of dye liquor therethrough, the dye liquor entering or leaving the spindle at one end and passing through the openings II in a manner well known in the dyeing art. The spindle may be of any suitable length, so as to accommodate any required number of cakes I2, but in order to simplify the drawing the spindle is here shown carrying but one cake. The spindle H0 at one end is shown threadedly engageable with a plate or carrier member l3, which is adapted to be placed in a dye tank (not shown). Since the carrier member and dye tank form no part of the present invention, they need not be described further than to say that they are clearly brought out in my hereinbefore mentioned patent. V

Adjacent the carrier member 13 is shown a sp'acer portion l4 upon which is adapted to rest a hub l6 of a base ll of an adapter or spool 18, the hub being preferably formed out of the same material as the base and having an opening I9 for loosely fitting over the spindle H]. The base I1 is annular in shape with an arcuate inwardly turned flange for embracingly engaging the outer corner of the cake [2. A cylindrical shell 2| is shown rigidly secured at an open end to the base [1, as by welding, while the other end is provided with a hub 22 having an opening 23, of substantially the same diameter as opening I9, for loosely encircling the spindle. A frustoconical shoulder or ring 24, for a purpose which will be brought out hereinafter in greater detail,

is shown interconnected between the base I! and the shell 25, as by welding. Both the shell and ring 24 have openings 25 for passage therethrough of dye liquor during the dyeing process. It is thus readily apparent that the annular base [1, shell 2|, and frusto-conical ring 24 constitute a single unit which is adapted to be easily slid onto the spindle.

An annular top 26, similar in construction to that of the annular base ii, is shown with a hub 21 having an opening 28 and arcuate inturned flange 29, which top is adapted for loosely fitting over the spindle ill and engaging an end portion of the cake 12. A frusto-conical outer shoulder or ring 36, preferably formed integrally with a cylindrical inner ring 3!, triangular in section, is rigidly secured to the top 26, as by welding, the inner ring being of a diameter slightly greater than that of the shell 2!, so that the inner ring will slidably fit over the shell, in telescopic engagement therewith. Both rings are provided with openings 32 for passage of the dye liquor therethrough.

Interposed between the frusto-conical rings 24 and 3| is shown an expansible ring or mandrel 33, substantially cylindrical in shape, which mandrel is constituted preferably of a rectangular sheet of resilient metallic material formed spirally about a longitudinal edge thereof as an axis, so that one edge 34 thereof slightly overlaps the other edge 35. A plurality of transverse openings 36 are also provided in the mandrel. It is to be noted that the mandrel 33 is adapted to be expanded radially as the top 23 with its frustoconical ring 353 is forced downwardly upon the cake I2 and shell 2i and, for this purpose, an internally threaded cap 31 is provided, which cap is threadedly engageable with the free end of the spindle if]. Thus, to expand the mandrel 33 it is only necessary to tighten the cap on the spindle and against the hub 2'! of the top 25, the top and bottom edges of the mandrel, as viewed in Fig. 2, riding outwardly along the conical surfaces respectively of the shoulders 24 and 3e, and the edges 34 and 35 of the mandrel approaching each other. The amount of expansion of the mandrel is of course dependent upon the angle formed between the frusto-conical ring 24 and the base I! and between the frusto-conical ring 33 and the top 26. I have found an angle of 35 to be satisfactory for both rings but, obviously, this angle may be increased or decreased to satisfy requirements. Upon release of the cap 37, the mandrel will retract to its original relaxed state, which is of a diameter preferably smaller than the internal diameter of the smallest cake.

In operation, the mandrel 33, while in its retracted condition, is disposed within the interior of a cake i2 and the assembly is disposed upon the ring 24 and base H, the latter of which have already been placed upon the perforatedspindle 4 H3. The top 26 with its rings 30 and 3| is then placed upon the cake with cylindrical ring 3! slidably engaging the peripheral surface of shell 2|. The cap 38 is then threaded onto the spindle and, as the top 26 and base I! compress the ends of the cake in a longitudinal direction, the mandrel 33 expands equally along its longitudinal axis and imparts to the cake a radial compressive force of equal magnitude along the inner periph eral surface of the cake. The rotation of the cap is stopped after the required compression of the cake has been attained and the cake is dyed in the conventional manner, an example of which is described in my hereinbefore mentioned patent.

It is thus readily seen that the above combination of compressive forces produces a predetermined density throughout the cake which will insure in the treating process an even and uniform dyeing of the cake.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown another embodiment of my invention, which is directed to imparting equi-radial compressive forces along the inner peripheral surface of a rayon cake 39 having a frusto-conical interior and a cylindrical exterior. This embodiment is substantially the same as the preceding embodiment except that instead of a substantially cylindrical mandrel a substantially frusto-conical mandrel 40 with openings 4| is provided, the mandrel 40 being adapted to ride along the frusto-conical rings 24 and 3i in a manner similar to that already described.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matters herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. In a spool adapter for supporting rayon cakes during a dyeing process in which the cakes are provided with a predetermined outside diameter and a variable inside diameter, means including an annular base element adapted for slidable mounting on a perforated dye spindle, a frusto-conical ring on said base, an annular top element, means including a perforated shell telescopically interconnecting said base and top elements on said spindle, said shell being rigidly secured to said base element, a frusto-conical ring on said top, and an expansible mandrel adapted to ride on said rings for compressing a rayon cake to a predetermined density.

2. A spool adapter according to claim 1, in which the expansible mandrel is substantially cylindrical in shape.

3. A spool adapter according to claim 1, in which the expansible mandrel is substantially frusto-conical in shape.

4. In a spindle adapter for supporting rayon cakes, in combination, a perforated spindle adapted to be mounted upon a carrier, an annular base having an axial opening for loosely encircling the spindle, a perforated shell having an open end rigidly secured to said base, said shell at the other end having an axial opening for loosely encircling the spindle, a frusto-conical ring rigidly secured to said base and shell, an annular top having an axial opening for loosely encircling the spindle, a cylindrical inner ring depending from said top and adapted to telescopically engage the peripheral surface adjacent the other end of said shell, a second frusto-conical ring depending from said top and joined to the free edge of said ring,

an expandible ring interposed between and adapted to ride upon said frusto-conical rings for engaging the inner surface of a textile cake, said inner surface and top and bottom of said cake being compressed to a predetermined degree as the top. and bottom plates are drawn together, and means for moving said top plate longitudinally.

ERNEST A. STIENEN.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Ashworth Apr. 12, 1921 Number Number Name Date Batcheler July 6, 1926 Bitter Dec. 1, 1936 Steiger July 6, 1937 White et a1 Aug. 31, 1937 Little et a1 Dec. 27, 1938 Stienen Oct. 22, 1940 Bergmann et a1. June 8, 1943 Wolfenden Dec. 24, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Feb. 23, 1932 

